I am so sore from yesterday’s workout that I can barely move. It was a great one. It was tough, and there were times that I wasn’t sure I’d make it, but I couldn’t stop smiling. No matter how bad the burn or how many times I got peed on. Oh, wait. Maybe I should start by explaining my workout. Yesterday, we moved the giant Aldabra tortoises from their off-exhibit winter enclosure to their summer digs. And a good time was had by all.
How do you move three large tortoises all the way across the zoo? Two answers. Very carefully, and pickup truck. They’re entirely too big for us to move them all at once. The girls and the hatchlings make the first trip.
And lift, and lift, and lift! Feel the burn! No, that's not me. I am taking the picture, silly.
The hatchlings? So glad you asked. This:
6 years ago. Time flies.
Is now this:
Yeah. Six years. Incredible, huh? 20 curls, please.
The ladies are taken to the clinic for weights and radiographs to check for egg development.
Patches REALLY doesn't want on the scale. So she peed and pooped all over the vets. I will have to try that at my next checkup. Lift, guys!
The bucket? Again?
And on to their new enclosure. Here’s where my part of the workout came in. My job was to convince these nearly 200lb tortoises to behave like ladies and not step on anyone’s toes. Not always easy. This job involved a lot of “brace yourself and hang on.” And a great deal of poop. Like hot yoga. (note: I have never participated in hot yoga, but this is how I imagine it would be.
There I am! Along with four other people and five tortoises.
Once the girls were safely deposited, it was time to move Al.
To put it into perspective, those guys are all six feet tall. Big Al lives up to his name. He likely tips the scales at 600lbs. I think I'll leave this one to the ones with the muscles.
Riding with Al was a bit of an adventure. His natural curiosity meant some squashed toes and pushing against 600lbs of “I want to see over THERE!” Feel the burn? And the bruise?
- It was worth the effort! Doesn’t he look happy? I
FeyGirl
May 7, 2012 at 9:09 am
so wonderful (and very entertaining, heh)…. ♥
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:09 am
It definitely keeps ME entertained!
Domestic Goddess in Training
May 7, 2012 at 9:18 am
What a great job you have!
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:09 am
It’s the best. No doubt!
linneann
May 7, 2012 at 9:19 am
Your life is such an adventure!
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:09 am
Every single day!
Louise
May 7, 2012 at 9:22 am
Wow, what a fantastic experience!! They grow quicker than I thought – the hatchling to 6yrs old is a great shot! I haven’t done hot yoga either but I sure hope there is no poop involved.
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:10 am
They grow unbelievably fast! I took a pic with the ploughshares last week because I know in a couple of years, I’ll have totally forgotten how small they were when they arrived!
MJ, Nonstepmom
May 7, 2012 at 9:33 am
Sign me up !!!! Seriously, I need to find a zoo ….
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:10 am
I cannot recommend it highly enough. It adds just the right amount of adventure to my life.
MJ, Nonstepmom
May 7, 2012 at 10:14 am
Ive already started my search, I think there are afew wildlife reserves in our area…:)
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:17 am
Good for you! You will LOVE it. You might even call a vet and see if there are local wildlife rehabilitators in your area. Sometimes they need volunteers. Or you can check http://www.nwrawildlife.org/
Chris Sheridan
May 7, 2012 at 9:40 am
You have a very cool job. And Big Al is one ginormous tortoise!
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:11 am
He is so freakishly large! He was away all winter, and I had forgotten just how gigantic he is!
Lisha @ The Lucky Mom
May 7, 2012 at 9:40 am
Next year you should trot this out as a premium workout. I’m sure someone would pay big bucks to get stepped on by a tortoise and slip in his poop. Really.
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:11 am
I would pay, for one!
Shannon
May 7, 2012 at 9:47 am
I live my reptilian love affair vicariously through your posts. Thank you for scratching my itch this morning!! I haven’t seen Calissa, the gator, in several days.
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:12 am
Maybe she’s out doing her gator business and will be back soon. I would so love to have a gator visit my back yard!
readytochangenow
May 7, 2012 at 9:57 am
They are so amazing!
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:14 am
They really are. And the fact that they have a personality just adds to the love.
sj
May 7, 2012 at 10:00 am
Really? That’s all it takes to get out of stepping on the scale? Hmmmm.
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 10:14 am
I know. All I can say is I wish I had thought of it first.
Anastasia
May 7, 2012 at 10:34 am
They should consider a sling chair with wheels like for people in wheelchairs. Everyone is going to need a massage after!
The Byronic Man
May 7, 2012 at 10:42 am
You could post about tortoises 5 times a day, every day, and I would love all of them.
Tiffany (lifewithblondie)
May 7, 2012 at 10:43 am
I bet my trainer is glad I have taken to pooping when I’m feeling pooped…
Tiffany (lifewithblondie)
May 7, 2012 at 10:44 am
I meant HAVEN’T… dang, why can’t you edit comments… what a TYPO
artjen1971
May 7, 2012 at 10:48 am
I LOVE Al!!! He’s huge!
Peggy Isaacs
May 7, 2012 at 11:25 am
Brought a smile to my face on this dreary Monday.
Audrey
May 7, 2012 at 11:25 am
I’m moving this weekend but I’ve got nothing on those guys! Big Al is a tank – very cool, and kind of funny that he’s so curious. Great photos and sounds like a blast (aside from the pee and poop fest)!
Beth Parker
May 7, 2012 at 11:29 am
Fun post! It’s obvious how much you love your work.
lucysfootball
May 7, 2012 at 11:38 am
Aldabra tortoises! They are now some of my favorites because I saw them in person and they had such personality! Yay!
apronheadlilly
May 7, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Crazy cool!
ceciliag
May 7, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I love it when we get to ride to the zoo with you, those tortoises are great. i saw some at the Bantam Swap yesterday.. they were not like this they had nobbly shells in a kind of grid but they were lovely, i told john that i was sure they would not try to jump his fences! c
becomingcliche
May 7, 2012 at 12:11 pm
They may have been African Spur-thighed tortoises. Those are the largest that are commonly kept as pets. I would love to have seen them!
motherofwonder
May 7, 2012 at 1:02 pm
I love it! Love it! especially the “big” one!
muddledmom
May 7, 2012 at 1:35 pm
That is so cool. Who knew it was such a workout? I thought tortoises were so well-behaved.
omawarisan
May 7, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Wow. I hadn’t considered that slow is not synomous with a lack of power in these guys.
Teresa Cleveland Wendel
May 7, 2012 at 3:08 pm
I had no idea they grew that fast.
2browndawgs
May 7, 2012 at 3:48 pm
I guess I never considered how one might move a tortoise if one was so inclined. Who knew you just lift them by the shell like a slab of marble.
cassiebehle
May 7, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Mother of…..
speaker7
May 7, 2012 at 5:02 pm
You need to turn this into an exercise video asap.
the domestic fringe
May 7, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Very cool.
etomczyk
May 7, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I am definitely going to pull the stunt that Patches did when I go to the doctor the next time. I hate, hate, hate being weighed and they all insist upon it. Maybe if I pee and poop on them, they’ll finally get the message. Ha! (Have I told you lately that I love your job?) Wonderful post!
whatimeant2say
May 7, 2012 at 10:46 pm
And I thought Wonderbutt was bad…
Madame Weebles
May 8, 2012 at 2:42 am
You have the most awesome job in the world.
Animalcouriers
May 8, 2012 at 4:56 am
Sorry to see you all pooped out. What fun though, beats any workout we’ve heard of